Blank separating and feeding machine



June 20, 1933. w. w. DAVIDSON BLANK ssmmnne Aim FEEDING IACHINE Filed June 12, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @1472??? WWW/72 1 (0602a June 20, 1933.

w. w. DAVIDSON BLANK SEPARATING AND FEEDING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 flay/0302a June 20, 1933. w. w. DAVIDSON 1,914,849

BLANK SEPARATING AND FEEDING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 1933 UNITED s'r ATs rs'r; oFFIcE WILLIAMS DAVIDSON, O! EVANfiTON, W018, ABSIGNOB I0 DAVIDSON MANU- FACTUBING CBEPANY, 01? MADISON, WIEGGNSIN, A GQBATIQN OF WISCONSIN BLANK SQEPTING Appiicatlon meal June 1%,

to adapt it "for feeeling blanks which differ in thickness, stifiness, sanoetliness enel seiegeids other characteristics winch may feet separation theseofa a A further object the invention is to movirle a blank sepsieting elevice which either be buiit int-cor censtrncteil es s sepssete unit enrl attached bodily to and spewstively connectecl with whet may lie clesigneteel e primary instills-handling machine se that it will eliciven directly therefrom and. 12 else clelives sepeeetecl olenlzs elieectly teed elevices of pm machine and to synchronize ope? on seiol seem-ato l" mechanism with (levices seiel pmn'iery mginentesy, sec- Li n Lie vsti-en on me line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

iis a fragmentary side eleveinio'n section showing; the lllfilliil ieeeptele tilted position.

Figure 5 is s fragmentary, sectienel elevetion showing certein devices, es in Fig. 3, but in (li'iierent operative positions.

Figure 6 is e detached, iwegmentsry top plan View, partly in section, of the feeding (levices of the machine to which my improves.

v eel ts lee secnreti to the frame cf 3, primary mess. semi ses eoe.

nisnk separating machine is shown as eppliechsnrl Figure 2 is e sectional elevation on the line '?i of t. I Describing the invention with Preference to the drawings 1 will first describe my impmwecl separator nieehsnisin end will then clescrile cs ecleptetio'n for ieeoling Tolsnks to e psimesy mecliine which it is applied in use,

The :fseiiee of improved blank senemtosmechenisin designated as e WllOlell, eemprises 'fierne member 1 which is adept niecliine to iiciitlie seperetcr meclienism is in opeietion, memes es s idi secured to which are pistes plates ere secured to low screws 3.

lenlzss so be feel or sepsretecl mpported in e snitelole reu at Whole D, mounted tes 2 ancl which members i, F which cent their front end seen whet lie desig- 3 ,lie receptacle, the 11 niemoers 4& 4 en sesently parent smed tlsereini eens cf arms 1, 1

is pinned. 01 o rotetelcly monnseel' in wins which. o epe cl l i lie memes? i,

enter cf iell, eespectively 3 to one siele B anies 1- 9 e their lower ends, 1 sided: in its vertical steels 9 secnreol therein, Whieii slcts 16 formed in the side memlzees 2 2', ef the main frame of the seps rater rollhy means of a coil spring 11, oppo W van? Eli

" pur wse consists of a site ends of which are attached to pins 12, 12, secured, respectively, in the supporting arm 6 and in the side plate 2' of the separator frame.

The pack receptacle 1) also comprises angle plates 13, 13' having vertically and horizontally disposed flanges, the horizontal flanges extending inwardly towards each other and forming the support on which the ack of blanks C rests directly. As shown, a so, said angle plates are so ported so as to be adjustable towards and rom each other, thus providing for varying the width of the space between the vertical fianges of said angle plates to receive blanks of dii'ferent widths. In what I now consider the preferable construction, said angle platesare thus adjustably supported by means of brackets 14 secured to their undersides and which are provided with bearings adapted to receive the rod with only slight clearance, thus rendering said angle plates both slidably and rotatably adjustable on said rod. As shown, also, said angle plates are adapted to be secured in adjusted positions on the rod 5 by means of set screws 15 threaded through the bearings of the brackets 14 in position to engage said rod.

As shown, the means for supporting said angle plates 13, 13, also comprises a rod 16, the ends of which are secured to lever arms 17, i7, pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the rod 5 which, as previously stated, is rotatably mounted in hearings in the side plates 2,4 of the blank receptacle and serves to connect the sense, said rod being slidably 1 to guides 18 formed aetween the nnclersides of angle plates l3, l3, plates 19 secured to said angle plates supported in spaced relation thereto,

in accordance wi my i enticn, and reasons presentiy e ined, the angie plates 13, 13 are adapted o no ted on the rod 5 to she inclination of said angie plates. As shown, the for this screw $10, preferably screw, the shank of which is mounted to turn in a hole formed I: stud 2?. pivoted to the side plate 4 of the bi eptacle D adiacez 5: its rear end, ad cured therein ago. 1st turnin movement, in positions correspon i to desired angular adjustment of said anole plates by lock nuts 22 threaded to said w below the stud 21, said screw also having L eaded with a hole formed in a stud 23 pivoted to a Son , lever arm 2 secured to the rod 5 so as to turn a portion of the weight of the pack "U contained therein, may be supported by a suitable counter balance applied to the shaft 7, consisting of a bar 25 an end of which is secured to said shaft so as to turn therewith, the free end of which projects frontwards and secured to which, so as to be adjustable lengthwise thereof, is a counter weight 26, which is adapted to be secured in any desired adjustment on said bar by a set screw 27.

In accordance with my invention, the

'means for separating and withdrawing blanks from the pack G contained in the blank receptacle D, one at a time, consists of a separator plate 28 and feed roll 29. As regards their usual features and, excepting as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out, said separator plate and roll are old and well known and their construction and operation will readily be understood from an examination of the drawings by persons skilled in the art, without a description thereof in detail.

As shown, the separator plate 28 is secured in fixed position to the frame member 1, with the surface thereof against which the front ends or edges of the blanks rest, continuous with the side or face of the frame member 1 to which it is secured, and the feed roll 29 is supported so as to be adjustable towards and from said separator plate, means being provided for eli'ecting such adjustment and for securing said separator roll in adjusted positions. 'As shown, the feed roll shaft 30 is rotatably mounted the free ends of arms 31, pinned or otherwise secured to shaft rotatably mounted in hearings in the side plates 2, 2 of the separator frame, the relation being such pivotal movement of said arms in opposite direction will impart movement to the feed roll 29 towards and from the scparator plate 28. iivotal movement to effect such adjustment is adapted to be imparted to the arms 31 by mejans of a screw 33 secured in a stud 3 L pivoted to an arm 31 a distance the axis the shaft 82, threaded end of which extends through a hole formed in a swivel stud. 35 pivoted to the side plate 2 of the separator frame and threaded to which opposite sides of said stud are nuts 36, preferably thumb nuts, by means of which adjustment of the roll 29 relative to the sep arator plate 28 can readily be eficcted, as will he understood.

Due to the manner of supporting the angle lates 13, 13, by which the pack of blanks G s supported directly, and. also to the adjustability of the feed roll 29 towards and from the separator plate 28, said separator mechanism may quickly and conveniently be adapted for feeding blanks of different kinds, as blanks varying in thickness, stiffness and finish, the angle plates 13, 13' being adjusted towards the horizontal and the feed roll 29 away from the separator plate 28, as shown in Fig. 3, when feeding heavier, stifi'er and rougher blanks, and said plates being adjusted away from the horizontal and the feed roll 29, towards the separatorplate 28, as

shown in Fig. 4,when feeding or separating thinner, more flexible and smoother blanks.

In operation, intermittent rotation in e direction to withdraw blanks from the pack C supported in the receptacle Dis adapted to he imparted to the feed roll 29 by suitable opersting connection with a driven part oi the primary machine B to which the separator unit is applied, as shown with the main shaft thereof. As shown, said means comprises a rack bar 37 secured in fixed position to a link 38, the front end of which is pivot'ally connected to the lower end of a lever arm 39 pivoted to the side frame of the machine B at 40 and to which oscillation in one direction is adapted to be imparted by means of a cam 41 secured to the shaft 5 acting in co-operetion with a ro ler stud 42 on the lever arm 39 and which is adapted to he moved in the opposite direction by means of a spring 48 appliedthereto. 7

The rack her link 37 is supported and guided by means of a slot 44 formed lengthwise therein which is slidably fitted to the projecting end of a stub shaft 45 rotatably mounted in e. hearing in the proximate lever arm 31 and to which the feed roll shaft 39 is operativel'y connected. I

intermittent rotary movement is imparted to the s'tulo shaft 45 and thus to the feed roll shaft 39 in operation, hy means of a pinion 46 mounted on said stub shaft in position to engage the reek 3?, seid pinion operetively seiol stuhshait by means of a. suitnhle ratchet gear II, the relationheing such 'ncclr C.

that rotation oi the gear 46 corresponding to turning movement of the lever arm 39 by the cam 41 will turn the feed roll 29 in e direction to withdraw loleniss from the While my invention contemplates the use of any suitable or desired form of ratchet gear, e ratchet gear which I now consider preferable for the purpose, is fully shown enddescrihetl in U. S. Letters Patent No, l,r 2?',0l5, deted May 3, 1927, to which reference is here muscle. 7

With the described construction, it is ohvious that the feed roll 29 will he actuated to withdrew a hlenlrtrom the pack C in the receptacle l) at eech revolution oi the shell: b of the machine B. i

As shown in the drawings, see particularly igs. 3, 5,? end 8, the primary Inechine B 's particularly designed'and adapted to he. nnnd fed, the blank feeding devices comrising pull-out rolls end iii, of which the roll is rotetehle on e lined and the roll 19 is rotatehly mounted zit the ends of arms 50 which project firontwerds from n frame rnernher 51 pirrotelly supported by studs 52' secured the side of the mechineend which is adapted to he turned pivotelly at intervals to depress the roller 49 into contact with the roll 48 by means of a roller 53 pivotally mounted at the front end of a plate 54 which ispivotnlly mounted concentric with the frame member 51 and is connected thereto by means oi e' holt 55 which extends through holes 'formed in a boss 56 formed on the front side of the member 51 end in a lateral projection 57 on the plate 54, said member 51 and plate 54 being mainteined at the limit of their relative pivotal movement, defined hy the bolt 55, by e spring 58 inserted between the projection 5'2 and a part or the member 51, said springbeing 2, coiled spring and confined in e hole formed in the boss on said member lil, sis shown. When free to respond thereto, the member 51 is adapted to he maintained yieldingly in position with the roller 49 chore end out of contact with the roller 48 by means of a coiled spring 59, opposite ends of which are attached to'the plate 54 end to the adjecent side frame member of the machine-B.

Blanks fed to the machine B are delivcred upon e slreletoned plate or table 60 and their position relative to the feeding devices of the machine is defined by means of stop lingers 51 which ere pivotelly supported on lugs 62 formed on the machine frame and are maintained yieldingly in position. with their ends projecting shove the plate or table 68, contact of the advancing edges of blanks fed to the machine therewith, operating to efi'ect register of the blanks delivered thereto with the feeding devices of the machine.

In the operetion of the machine B, also, the stop lingers 61 are adapted to he turned pivotslly to depress their free ends below the top of the delivery plate or table 60, suhstantielly simnlteneonsly with contact of the pull-out roller 4&9 with the roller &8, effected by turning movement of the frame member 51 by the roller 53, es heretofore explained, thus releasing the blanks and permitting them to pass to the printing devices" As shown, the means for thus depressing the stop fingers 61 consists of e lever arm 6?.

operetively connected with seid stop fingers so es to turn therewith, e pin M'secured in which, projects into the peth of movement of e lateral lug or projection 65 formed on the plate 54, the relation being such that coiitectof the lugs (55 with the end of the pin eees the plate 5 is turned pivot-ally by contact of the roll 53 with the high portion oi? the actuating cein, will depress the stop fingers 61 below the level of the receiving plate receptacle D thereof directly to the feed devices thereof, I attain the object of the invention by providing means for first guiding the advancing edges of blanks withdrawn from the receptacle D between the spaced apart pull-out rolls 48 and 49 of the machine B and into contact with the stop fingers 61 and in then releasing said blanks to permit them to buckle, as sh'own in Fig. 5, thus avoiding the necessity for accurately timing the operation of the separator unit or mechanism and the feed devices of the machine B. As shown, the means for thus guiding and releasing withdrawn blanks consists of fingers 66 secured to a rock shaft mounted to turn in bearings in the side plates 2, 2 f the frame of the separator unit or mechanism, which project frontward over the feed roll 29 and separator plate 28 into the opening at the front side of the frame of the machine B defined by the converging sides of the member 51 and the blank receiving plate or table 60. In accordance with the invention, oscillating movement is adapted to be imparted to the shaft '67 to turn the fingers 66 from depressed position, shown in Fig. 4, in which they will serve as guides for the advancing edges of the blanks, to raised osition, shown in Fig. 5, in which they will re ease fed blanks and permit them to buckle. As shown, the means for imparting oscillating movement to the rock shaft 67 consists of an arm 68 secured thereto, mounted on which is a roller stud 69 which projects over and rides upon a cam surface on the upper edge of the link 38, comprising relatively low and high sections 70 and 71 connected. by an inclined section 72, the relation being such that engagement of the roller stud with the low section 70 of said cam, will correspond to depressed position of the fingers 66, shown in Fig. 3, and with the high section 71 thereof, corresponding to raised position of said fin ers, shown in F i 5.

As shown, the ngers 66 aremamtained yielding'ly depressed by a torsion spring 73 applied thereto, opposite ends of which are attached to the arm 68 and to a fixed member and which surrounds said shaft as a guide.

I claim:

1. In a blank separating mechanism, the combination of a frame, a vertically movable pack support mounted thereon with the pack supporting surface thereof approximatel horizontal, means for maintaining said {Jack support yieldingly raised, blank separating means comprising a feed roll mounted above said pack support in position to contact with the uppermost blank of a pack. supported thereon, said feed roll being rotatable on a fixed axis and contact therewith defining fully raised position of the pack, a separator plate supported in association with said feed roll, means for varying the relative inclination of the pack support and separator plate,-

the pack support raising means being calibrated to provide necessary traction to render the blank separating means operative.

2. In blank separating mechanism, the combination of a frame, a vertically movable pack support mounted thereon with the pack supporting surface thereof approximately horizontal, means for maintaining said pack support yicldingly raised, blank separating means comprising a feed roll mounted above said pack support in position to contact with the uppermost blank of a pack supported thereon, said feed roll being rotatable on a fixed axis and contact thereoperative.

3. In blank separating mechanism, the combination of a frame, a vertically movable pack support mounted thereon with the pack supporting surface thereof approximatel horizontal, means for maintaining said pac support yieldingly raised, blank separating means comprising a feed roll mounted above said pack support in position to contact with the uppermost blank of a pack su ported thereon, said feed roll being rotatable on a fixed axis and contact therewith defining fully raised position of the pack, a separator plate supported in association with said feed roll, means for varying the relative inclination of the pack support and separator plate, and separate means for adjusting the feed roll towards and from the separator plate, the pack support raising means being calibrated to provide necessary traction to render the blank separating means operative.

4. Blank separating mechanism as specified in claim 1, the pack support of which comprises side frame members, front and rear rods which connect said side frame members in spaced relation, the rear rod being rotatable, a rock shaft, arms secured thereto the free ends of which are pivotally connected to opposite side'frames of said pack support, means for guiding said pack support vertically, said pack support also comprising a pac receptacle pivoted to the front rod connecting the side frames of the pack support, and means for flexibly connecting said receptacle with the rear supporting rod of theframe of the pack support providing means for turning said receptacle pivotally to vary its inclination.

5. Blank separating mechanism as specified in claim 1, the pack support of which comprises side frame members, front and rear rods which connect said side frame ion comprising a pee receptacle pivoted to the 1 supported by said arms ill front rod connecting the side frames otthe "pack support, and said receptacle with the rear supporting rod of the frame of the pack support providing means for turning said receptacle pivotally to very its inclination, comprising lever crank arrns secured to the rear rod which connects the side frames of the pack support, and a rod supported by said arms on which said peel: rests directly.

6. Blank separating mechanism as specified in claim 1, the paclr support of which comprises side frame members, front and rear rods which connect said side frame members in spaced relation, the rear rod being rotatable, a rock shaft, arnissecured?" thereto the free ends of which are pivotally connected to opposite side frames oi said pack support, means for guiding said pack support vertically, said pack support also comprising a pack receptacle pivoted to the front rod connecting the side frames of the pack support, and means flexibly connecting said receptacle with the rear supporting rod oi the frame oi the pack support providing means for turning said receptacle pivotally to vary its inclination, comprising cran arms secured to the rear rod for connecting the side frames of the pack support, a rod on which said pack receptacle rests directly, and means for ing said rear rod pivotally and tor securing it in adjusted positions.

7. ln -blanlr separating mechanism, the combination of a frame a vertically movable pack support mounted thereon with the pack supporting surface tliereoi approx mately horizontal, means for maintaining said paclr support yieldingly raised, blank separating means comprising a roll mounted above said pack support in position to centre" with the uppermost blank of a pace supported thereon, said feed roll being rotatable on a lined axis and contact therewith defining "fully raised position of the pools, a hired seporator plate supported in association with said teed roll,and means for varying the inclination of the pack support,

8. Blank separating mechanism as specitied in claim 2, in which the means for supporting the iced roll comprises roclr shaft, arm-s secured thereto provided hearings for said teed roll, and means for turning said reel; shaft and armspivotally secur ing them in adjusted positions, I r &, Blank separating mechanism speci tied in claim 2 in which the surinovement'thereto, and arms secured to said gate, comprises a rock-shaft, arms secured t ereto rovided with bearings for said feed sell, an means for turning said rock shaft and arms piv'otally and for securing them in oted'to a feed roll supporting arm, a stud mounted on the separator frame provided with a hole through which said screw ex tends, and nuts threaded to said screw at opposite sides of said stud and adapted to be c amped upon the same.

, .10. in combination, a primary blank handling machine equipped with stop fingers arranged toefiect register of blanks delivered thereto with the feeding devices of said ma-' chine, a blank separating and feeding mechanism mounted in associated with said primary machine and arranged to neliver separated blanks directly thereto, and insane operating initially to guide the advancing edges of separated blanks into contact with the stop fingers of said primary machine and to permit buckling thereoi while being fed, when their advancing edges contact with the stop fingers of said primary machine,

11. in combination, a primary hlanlr handling machine equipped with stop lingers arranged to efi'ect register of blanlgs delivered thereto with the feeding devices of said machine, a blank separating mechanism adjusted positions, comprising a screw piv- Ell mounted in association with said primary machine and arranged to deliver separated blanks directly thereto, end means operating initially to guide the advancing edges of separated blanks into contact withthestop fingers of said prnnary machine and to then release said blanks to permit buckling there- P or.

12. The structurespecified in claim ll, the

0 blank guiding and releasing noeam or which comprises pivoted lingers, means for menutaining said fingers depressed in position to guide blanks into contact with the stop fingers of the primary machine, and means for raising said-guide lingers to release said blanks and permit buckling thereof.

13. The structure specified in claim ll,- the blanlr guiding and releasing means of which comprises pivoted fingers, means for maintaining said lingers depressed in position to guide blanks into contact with the stop fingers of the primary machine and means operatively connected with actuamd part of said primary machine for raising said guide fingers to release said i l. The structure speciiiedin claim ll, the blank guiding and releasing of which comprises a rock lingers secured there to, means for maintainin said roelr in o I h L) i I 3 a position corresponding as depression ,ot said guide fingers, and me: is to turn said sh, to elevate said guide fingers, comprising a earn bar, means for supp the same, means for impaireciprocatin rock shaft and a roller stud mounted thereon positioned to operativey engage the cam surface of said cam bar.

15. The structure specified in claim 10, the blank guiding means of which comprises pivoted fingers the weight of which is proportioned to permit buckling of the blanks while bearing the weight of said fingers, when their advancing edges contact with the sto fingers of the rimary machine.

11 witness that iclaim the fcregcing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 9th day of June, 1931 WILLIAM WARD DAXHDSQN. 

